When you choose to adopt internationally, you’re bringing a new world into your home. Every year, many adoptive families across the U.S. decide to build their families overseas.

It can be intimidating figuring out where to start. Generally, there are seven steps to completing an international adoption in Vermont.

As all adoptions have different requirements, it’s a good idea to talk to an adoption professional beforehand. If you have any questions on how to get started with an adoption overseas in Vermont, Please call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time to get free information now.

Step 1: Choose a Country

If you’re considering an overseas adoption in Vermont, you’ve likely put some thought into which country you’d like to adopt from. Maybe you’re interested in a certain culture, or perhaps you’d like to choose a country with a similar background to your own family. With an international adoption in Vermont, there are many options to choose from.

There’s one thing to keep in mind, however, before you begin your international adoption in Vermont: Some international adoption agencies only work with specific countries. If you have a country in mind that you’d like to adopt from, you’ll want to contact an international adoption agency in Vermont ahead of time to make sure they can complete adoptions in that country.

Step 2: International Adoption Agencies

Now that you have an idea of what country you would like to choose for your international adoption in Vermont, you may feel overwhelmed when it comes to looking for a provider. Below are some popular agencies for an international adoption in Vermont.

• Adoption Advocates

• Lund Family Services

• Wide Horizons for Children  

Another thing to keep in mind is that the agency you choose needs to be Hague-Accredited according to the Universal Accreditation Act of 2012.

You may be wondering, what’s a Hague adoption in Vermont? Simply put, the Hague Adoption convention was put in place to protect children adopted internationally. You can visit the U.S. Department of State website for a list of countries that allow for a Hague Convention adoption.

Step 3: Home Study for International Adoption

Even if you’re not adopting from a Hague convention country, your Vermont international adoption home study will still need to performed by a Hague-Accredited agency.

This process is similar to a domestic adoption home study. You will need to provide important documents, such as background checks and clearances, and pass your in-home inspection and interview.

Step 4: Apply to Be Eligible to Adopt

Like any type of adoption, you’ll have to meet certain eligibility requirements to adopt a child. For an international adoption in Vermont, you’ll need to follow the USCIS adoption process.

You’ll need to fill out either form 1-800A or 1-600A. After you send your form to USCIS, they’ll make sure that you meet the requirements to become an adoptive parent. Which form you need to fill out will depend on whether or not you are adopting from one of the Hague Convention countries.

Once you have received clearance from USCIS, you are officially eligible to adopt! You can now move on to the next step of your overseas adoption in Vermont.

Step 5: Apply for the Child to Be Eligible to Adopt

Even though you’ve submitted your eligibility application to adopt internationally in Vermont, you’re not quite finished yet. In addition to your application, you’ll also need to complete one for your child. Form 1-600 or 1-800 will need to be filled out in order for your child to immigrate to the United States.

After your child’s forms have been received and they have been approved by USCIS, you can apply for your child’s visa. To begin your child’s visa application, you’ll need to fill out the DS-260 application form.

Step 6: Travel to Your Chosen Country and Return Home

As you’re booking your travel accommodations, you can expect your stay in your child’s birth country to last anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks. During your foreign adoption stay, you will be able to get to know your child, begin the legal steps for an international adoption, and complete your visa application.

You will also have an interview with your child’s country’s adoption authorities. After the interview, your child will receive their own visa. Depending on the situation, your child will receive:

• IH-3 or IR-3 visa – This visa signifies that both adoptive parents (if applicable) were present, and the adoption was completed in the child’s native country.

• IH-4 or IR-4 visa – If only one adoptive parent was present for the adoption, or if the adoption was not completed in the child’s home country, then the adoption will need to be finalized in Vermont.

Before you’re ready to travel back to Vermont, make sure that you’re not forgetting any of your child’s important documents like their visa or social security card.

Bringing your child home is an amazing milestone, but many adoptive families often forget one last step after they’ve returned home.

Step 7: Finalization or Re-Adoption in VT

After you return home from your exciting travels, there’s still one more step you might have to complete. Depending on which visa your adopted child received, you may need to complete either finalization or a re-adoption in Vermont. For example, if your child received a:

• IH-4 or IR-4 visa – You will need to finalize the adoption in Vermont.

• IH-3 or IR-3 visa – Your adoption is technically complete, but it’s still strongly recommended that you complete the re-adoption process in Vermont. Re-adoption helps protect your parental rights across the United States so that there will be no question about your child’s citizenship.

Re-adopting or finalizing your international adoption in Vermont ensures that all of the legal steps of your international adoption have been met. Failure to complete this last step can lead to legal issues down the road, so it’s important to remember.

After you have completed this essential step, you child will be recognized as a United States citizen and your international adoption in Vermont is complete!

Even though American Adoptions is unable to facilitate your international adoption in Vermont, we would be happy to point you in the right direction. You can request free information from us at any time. 

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